Allen Park — Matt Patricia had barely crossed the threshold into the Detroit Lions locker room on Sunday night before he was met with a bear hug from team president Rod Wood.
The coach reciprocated, lifting Wood off his feet, and as they separated, general manager Bob Quinn swooped in for an embrace with his longtime friend and the man he hired to lead the Lions to the promised land.
Players soon swarmed Patricia, veterans and youngsters alike, and the mass of humanity began jumping up and down, similar to a baseball team at the pitcher’s mound after a pennant is clinched.